"I have taken a lot of naps," Gideon says. No, that's not what kidnapping is. She knows what kidnapping is. But it's the low hanging fruit and still makes her smile.

She tucks the key down her shirt, getting a few goosebumps for her trouble. It's the safest place she knows to store something that small. Not that it's of any use here. "Especially if you can't remember leaving the planet or time passing or being bested or ambushed and kidnapped." How many times had Gideon looked up that tight passage Cohort shuttles flew down to deliver supplies or godly summons or whatnot? "Did you come over to the island with the swim suits and free food and surfing and dancing? Like it was one big party, ignoring or including the people nearly drowning as best fits what you think of as a party? There were so many hot women, I was gonna be mad if I were dreaming." She's not spent much reflection on that, her first island.

Gideon looks around them. "Do you want to go back?" Gideon asks. Not that this place is some heaven. It isn't so simple as all that. But it's still been a better more peaceful life than she ever knew at home.